Karen Elliott, Mayor, District of Squamish

It is Child Care month in BC. Mayor's Drop In this Thursday evening is dedicated to the topic. No easy answers to addressing the crisis that is impacting so many communities, but we're all interested in hearing ideas and suggestions and sharing what we're working on.

If you haven't registered for vaccine, now is the time.

A wonderful collaborative effort to celebrate World Oceans Day. Learn more about Howe Sound’s glass sponge reefs.

If you can't make it to the discussion Monday evening (see post below) on child care with MP Weiler and MLA Sturdy, then we're hosting a more "local" discussion about child care at the next Mayor's drop in on May 13th in the evening.

CORRECTION: Agenda package with bylaw details will be available Friday morning. This past Tuesday, the District of #Squamish Council discussed a Visitor and Ca...mping Management Plan for Squamish. The goal of the plan is to mitigate against environmental and social impacts as a result of increased seasonal visitation activity (May 1-October 15). Part of the plan involves introducing several bylaw changes to ensure that the District has the authority and tools to enforce responsible visitor behaviour throughout our community. Contrary to some conversations that are happening on social media, this DOES NOT include opening up our municipal parks for camping. The intention of these amendments is to actually strengthen the District’s ability to manage and mitigate against the above impacts within our neighbourhoods. Other social media conversations raise concerns about the possibility of homeless encampments forming. Again, the proposed bylaw amendments are designed to strengthen the District’s ability to prevent this from occurring, while still supporting vulnerable homeless community members in Squamish. Detailed information on the proposed bylaw changes will be available this Friday as part of the Council agenda package. The proposed bylaw changes will be discussed at Council this coming Tuesday, May 4. We kindly ask that people hold their speculative comments until all of the details are available. The information will be shared via the Council agenda on our website homepage (Squamish.ca), as well as here on social media. Information on how to listen to Council’s deliberations can be found here. https://squamish.ca//view-or-participate-in-a-council-mee/

If you can't make it to the discussion Monday evening (see post below) on child care with MP Weiler and MLA Sturdy, then we're hosting a more "local" discussion about child care at the next Mayor's drop in on May 13th in the evening.

Really happy that our MP and MLA responded to the call for a roundtable on child care. Lots to talk about given recent budget announcements and what they might mean for our Child Care Strategy and Action Plan locally. The Mayor's Drop In later this month will also be on the topic of child care.

I will be at Junction Park with Councillor Pettingill until 6 tonight.

As people will know by now, the Sea to Sky Gondola has experienced another vandalism incident and the cable was cut again very early this morning. RCMP are asking everyone to stay out of the vicinity. They also believe that someone in our area may have seen something or heard something and we ask that if you have something to share please contact Squamish RCMP at 604-892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca. Let's rally and help each other out. People have been impacted and we are still all in this together.

For those with questions about Back to School and covid-19, you have an opportunity to engage with our Vancouver Coastal Health public health leader, Dr. Mark Lysyshyn. Tune in this Thursday.

Today I helped raise the Squamish Pride flag above municipal hall in honour of Pride Week 2020 and our celebration of diversity and inclusion. Let’s paint the town rainbow to show our support - decorate your windows and doors.

Thank you Kara Triance for your service to our community. I will miss working with Kara - she is a smart, strategic, talented and caring OIC. I am confident that she has built a great team in the Sea to Sky corridor and so her leadership impact will stay with us for many years to come. https://www.squamishchief.com//sea-to-sky-s-top-cop-named-

Fortis is hosting two virtual public meetings about the proposed Eagle Mountain Pipeline. The first is tonight at 6pm, the other is Thursday at 4. Details can be found here: https://talkingenergy.ca//eagle-mountain-woodfibre-gas-pip There will be a short presentation followed by a Q&A.

If you are interested in hearing from and asking questions of our federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Cdn Coast Guard, our MP is hosting a virtual town hall on Facebook at 4pm tomorrow.

There is still room for any youth or parents that want to join in the conversation later today (3:30-5 for youth, 5:30 - 7 for parents) to help design the new Foundry Squamish. See details below.

Announcement today that BC Parks will be implementing a trailhead pass program for the backside trail on The Chief and for three trailheads in Garibaldi Park as of July 27th. More details here: http://bcparks.ca/reserve/day-use/

While it looks like showers, we will have shelter and chairs. Bring your coffee/tea/water. I look forward to seeing people and having a conversation without a screen in front of me. Question? Concern? New to town and want to say hi? Come on by.

Well done Squamish's Anthill Films... I think you captured so much of the experienced over the last few months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jKgXQPdgg

There are so many events and gatherings we will miss this year because of Covid-19, but that doesn't mean we can't find alternative ways to celebrate. National Indigenous Peoples Day is today and is one of those gatherings I will miss: the people, the food, the protocol and especially watching Squamish Nation youth beat us so easily in the canoe race. There are still ways to acknowledge and celebrate and that is by taking time to learn. The SLCC has virtual events planned i...ncluding a live-streamed drumming circle at 11am: https://slcc.ca/national-indigenous-peoples-day/ In an ongoing effort to learn and support good conversation, our library is also hosting a three-part virtual book club on the book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. You can still catch the last two sessions on June 26 and July 3: https://squamish.bc.libraries.coop//book-club-21-things-/

More good news from the Province today with the announcement that the new Youth Hub in the Buckley Avenue project will be a Foundry location operated by Sea to Sky Community services. This means better access to health, mental health and substance use support for Squamish youth. We were one of eight new communities announced today.

Hate gas prices in Squamish? The province has taken notice of all of your emails and protests. This is a step in the right direction. Special attention being paid to Squamish under the new fuel price transparency act. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EMPR0017-001067

My first public event since March 16 and wonderful that Minister Ralston could join us. It was a brief, wet, but fantastic event to turn the ground on the new Carbon Engineering Innovation Centre on the oceanfront lands.

This is such a great initiative to ensure fresh food reaches those in need (not to mention that growing food yourself just makes you feel better). Thank you Squamish CAN (Climate Action Network) for looking out for our community.

Scrolling aimlessly? The third in our climate lecture series is on now! Listen in, participate in the chat and Q&A.

Good morning. If you have a few minutes at 11am join us for Mayor's Drop In. I will be joined online by Ian Picketts our Manager of Sustainability and Climate Change so welcome your questions around our climate action plan. Councillor Andersen in his role as acting mayor this month will also be joining me. We're happy to hear your thoughts on recovery from the pandemic, our re-opening plans or anything else to do with civic life. Join us. Details below from District of Squamish

Never underestimate the power of one person's enthusiasm and passion to bring people together for a great cause. World Ocean's Day is June 8th. This week you can access the Connect and Protect Toolkit with activities, videos, resources, for each day of this week, Orca Friday, photo and drawing contests, a walk and a virtual talk. If you are are a parent or teacher, this is an amazing resource and treasure trove of ideas, activities, videos. Check out the Squamish Wave of Change Facebook page for more information. Thank you Minna Koskela-Wild for making World Ocean's Day celebrations happen this year in Squamish.

Tonight at 7, the second in a four part series. It will be interactive, I promise you will learn something. Join in.

Had a great conversation with the Mayors of Whistler and Pemberton on the Whistler Podcast a few weeks ago. A chance for the three of us to reflect on the pandemic and community life. https://whistlerpodcast.buzzsprout.com//3861899-episode-15